Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Taoiseach has suggested that there is some significant address of the social housing need. He must specify what we are discussing because I have noted that the dependency of the majority of local authorities, certainly those of which I am aware and exposed to, is on the rental accommodation scheme, RAS. This is not a solution. At best, it is a stopgap situation only applying to those already in receipt of rental supplement and in accommodation circumstances that require transfers. The RAS is not an answer, but it is what most local authorities are depending on. They do not have funding. They have been starved of the essential funding necessary to progress with social housing construction.

The situation is very serious. Housing waiting lists are not shortening in the majority of local authority areas throughout this jurisdiction. This is a matter that the so-called Cabinet committee on housing needs to address, but there is no evidence that it has done or is doing so in any way. The Taoiseach did not indicate in his reply whether there is to be any assessment of current need to underscore the reality facing many families the length and breadth of the State and to inject some urgency into Cabinet address of these issues.

I want to address my second question regarding the Cabinet committee on health. It could hardly have done so in respect of one report already, but will it address the Joint Committee on Health and Children's report on primary care, which was published last week? Will it also address the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on hospital emergency departments?

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